If you are a person with a disability and plan to participate in a court activity, you may request an accommodation or service from the court.
The Circuit Court of Cook County is committed to providing persons with disabilities with reasonable and appropriate accommodations consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other state and federal laws. All Cook County court facilities are ADA compliant.
We will give primary consideration to the requests of individuals with disabilities. Primary consideration means that the court will honor the choice of the individual, unless the court demonstrates that another equally effective accommodation is available, or that the requested accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of court activities or undue financial and administrative burdens.
Request Accommodations
Please use this Request for Accommodation Form to make your request. You should submit your request to the Court Disability Coordinator. If possible, the request should be submitted at least 14 days before the date of the scheduled court activity. Please see the list of Court Disability Coordinator contacts below and submit your Request Form to the appropriate party.
Note: You are not required to use the request form. You may also submit a request in any form, written, verbal, or otherwise.
The Court Disability Coordinator will respond in writing or in a format accessible to you, within seven (7) days from the date the request was received. If you do not receive a communication within seven (7) days, you should contact the Court Disability Coordinator.
You can learn more about requests for accommodations and services in the Circuit Court of Cook County in the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for Persons with Disabilities.
Contact Information for Submitting Requests
DHHA Accommodations for All Court Participants
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Access (DHHA) Requests
Ann Wohlmuth, CI/CT
IL-License: Master Level
Supervisor for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access, Office of the Chief Judge
Email: ocj.deafhardofhearingaccess@cookcountyil.gov
Main Phone: (312) 603-1918
Video Phone: (312) 603-9187
Fax: (312) 603-9932
Mail should be addressed to:
Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
Attn: DHHA Coordinator
69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60602
All Juror Accommodation Requests - Except for DHHA Accommodations
Juror Accommodation Requests
Jury Disability Coordinator
Disability Coordinator, Office of Jury Administration
Email: jury.ada@cookcountyil.gov
Phone 1: (312) 603-5879
Fax: (312) 603-5460
Mail should be addressed to:
Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of Jury Administration
Attn: Disability Coordinator
50 West Washington Street, Suite 1000
Chicago, Illinois 60602
All Other ADA Accommodations for Court Participants - Excluding Jurors
Court Disability Coordinator
Elena Demos
Court Disability Coordinator, Office of the Chief Judge
Email: ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
Phone: (312) 603-1915
Fax: (312) 603-9932
Mail should be addressed to:
Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
Attn: Court Disability Coordinator
69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60602
Frequently Asked Questions
Any person participating in a court case or court-related matter may request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Court participants can include but are not limited to:
- Jurors
- Parties in a case (litigants)
- Witnesses
- Lawyers
- Someone observing a case
Court activities include:
- Traditional court proceedings, within a courthouse location
- Remote Court Proceedings
If possible, requests should be made at least 14 days before the date the request is needed.
Requests should be sent by mail or email, and when needed, they can also be submitted by telephone or videophone to the appropriate contact listed below on this page.
Please note that there are 3 types of requests:
- Requests for Juror Access Needs
- Requests for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Access Needs
- Requests for all other kinds of ADA Accommodation Needs
If possible, requests should be made in writing by using the Accommodation Request Form and submitted via email to the appropriate party, listed above on this page. Requests can also be made by telephone if needed.
Requests for accommodations should be as specific and detailed as possible and include the following information about the accommodation being requested:
- Date
- Time
- Location
The Court Disability Coordinator will respond in writing or in a format accessible to you to confirm the accommodation or service requested within seven (7) days from the date the request was received. If you do not receive confirmation within seven (7) days, you should contact the Court Disability Coordinator.
If the response by the Court Disability Coordinator does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may file a grievance. A grievance may be filed at any time, but to address the issue in a timely fashion, it should be made within fifteen (15) business days after the person filing the complaint becomes aware of the action or inaction. While the grievance is being resolved, the judge may give — or you may request — a stay of court proceedings. The grievance procedure is not intended to unreasonably delay the court process. See [link to] to Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities. The Grievance form should be submitted to:
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE,
ATTN: COURT DISABILITY COORDINATOR
69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60602
ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
Main: (312) 603-0241
Fax: (312) 603-9932
If the grievance response by the Court Disability Coordinator does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may file an appeal. The appeal should be made within fifteen (15) business days of the date of the Court Disability Coordinator's written response. While the appeal is being resolved, the judge may give — or you may request — a stay of court proceedings. The appeal procedure is not intended to unreasonably delay the court process. See [link to] to Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Access for People with Disabilities. The Appeal form should be submitted to:
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE,
ATTN: HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60602
ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
Main: (312) 603-1903
Fax: (312) 603-9932
Elena Demos
Court Disability Coordinator, Office of the Chief Judge
Email: ocj.accommodations@cookcountyil.gov
Phone: (312) 603-1915
Fax: (312) 603-9932
Mail should be addressed to:
Circuit Court of Cook County, Office of the Chief Judge
Attn: Court Disability Coordinator
69 W. Washington Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60602